Why are we fans?

[Bayou Wolf [enjin:6635650]]

I think about this periodically. It is amazing the hold that this perennially poor team has over all of us. I mean this is an incredibly active board, with optimism and detailed and in-depth analysis of our team (and the hope for our team). What amazes me is that this is the same thing I have seen year in and year out, and which I have followed eagerly, year in and year out. Somehow, the disappointments slide off and we keep looking forward. I moved away from Minnesota 16 years ago, and I still am a dedicated TWolves fan. The question I pose is "Why?" Just would love to hear your thoughts. I still wear my Szczerbiak jersey proudly.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

A) Everybody loves a good tragedy
B) Nobody can look away from a horrific car accident
C) We're all kinda anti-social losers
D) All of the above

Seriously though, I think our perpetual failures actually help account for the activity because there are always better days to hope for and that's what people post on. On a more cynical (or realistic) note, our perpetual failure probably keeps this community active because we all like to point out what we would have done differently, and hypothesize how to dig out of this mess. In short, we're a community of hopeful complainers, and we've got a team that gives us a need for hope and plenty of reason to complain. And so we return, again and again, like bees to the flowers. Or flies to . . . well, you know how that goes.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

For me, this is a hobby, which is different than being a casual fan of the team. As a result, I enjoy the process as much as the end result.

[Monster]

This is an interesting question here are my reasons.

I grew up in Eastern South Dakota and therefore was a fan of all the Minnesota sports. My Dad grew up in the Ames Iowa area and was a fan as well and went to a number of Twins games at the old Met. Bird was my favorite player and the Celtic were my team as a young kid. After Bird and all the Celtic retired it was depressing. A couple years later the Wolves came into exsitance and many of their games were actually televised locally in my area which was fantastic. Around the same time the CBA was televising games as well and I was a big Skyforce fan. Those early teams were bad but it was what I had and it wasn't much worse than the sad times the Celtics had for years.

As time went on the Wolves were bad (understatement) but then everything changed in 1995. Flip and McHale were in charge of the team got rid of trash making some really good moves and drafting KG. The Wolves were an exciting you team with KG and Marbury an exciting young duo with some other fun players like Googs who gave it all on every play.

For a number of years during the KG era the Wolves had success and had one of the best all-around players in the league (and ever imo). I know the Wolves didn't get out of the first round but in general you could be proud to be a Wolves fan. Then the Wolves were a healthy PG away from having a real shot at the title. For some of us that seems like not that long ago and a lifetime all at the same time. The last few years of awfulness there were bright spots like Big Al or even Craig Smith. Kevin Love came along and was worth watching basically every game he played.

I'm not a bandwagon fan in general. If I pick a team I'm sticking with that team unless something really crazy happens.

I'll be interested to hear the answers in this thread for a number of reasons. One of my good friends is a pop culture fandom scholar so its interesting to hear all the thoughts and theories out there for the phenomenon of fandom.

[commandoelite5 [enjin:8196470]]

I live in Nebraska but have spent every summer of my life in northern Minnesota. Obviously I needed a NBA team to follow, and there is no way in hell I would pick the Lakers or Knicks. Why would I? So I can be like every bandwagon loser who really has no knowledge of basketball, but likes to wear the gear? I rarely post but I feel like fans of small market teams really know their stuff, it's nice to be able to read pretty good insight for the most part on here. Plus, when the Wolves win the NBA championship one day it will be way way way more satisfying.

[zigzag22 [enjin:6591633]]

For me personally (from North Dakota), being a fan of the Wolves is almost like starting your own business. I enjoy the process of attempting to build something and watch it grow (hopefully successfully). Now, if the Wolves were my own startup, I would probably have millions in loans and not many friends left, but the point is I (as well as many other Wolves fan in this area) enjoy the story of attempting to build and compete against the major markets, rather than simply purchasing a blue NY hat and calling myself a Knicks fan.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

When I was a young kid growing up in Mpls, the only major league franchise was the Lakers. I have fond memories of Sunday afternoon matinees at the Armory, especially allowing the kids to go down on the court after the game to throw popcorn boxes at the baskets. The Lakers broke my heart when they left town, and I have hated them ever since. I turned my back on the NBA (except for a short period in the early 70s when I became a big Knicks fan, and instead became a huge Gopher fan. But I came back to the NBA when the Wolves franchise started up, and had season tickets from the Dome days until I moved to LA in 2011.

I have generally been a patient fan, and almost always optimistic at the start of every season. But the cloud of Love leaving unless we made the playoffs made last year kind of difficult to take. I'm feeling much more relaxed this year, and more optimistic looking out 2-3 years.

[BloopOracle]

I only root for my home state team no matter what the sport is

[Phenom]

This is certainly a hobby for me as well but it also something that brings my family together. My grandfather and father are from Minnesota and I am from North Dakota. The Minnesota team are our teams. Even while growing up in Arizona, I would spend my summers watching Twins games with my grandfather and it brought us closer. I also have many fond memories of watching Vikings football with my dad, even when we were devastated by losses. Neither were into basketball but I am and look forward to bringing a lifetime of sports disappointment to my future children, starting March 2015!

[Papalrep]

I am an NBA fan who resides in Minny. I think the NBA is the most fun to follow, simply because a teams fortunes can change faster than say, the Vikes. A roster overhaul for an NFL team is 22 players. An NBA team, including the bench is what, 12 to 15?

I haven't followed hockey since I was a kid and the North Stars were in Bloomington. The Twins piss me off, they refusal to spend money is disgusting. I like the Wilfs (as owners).

This all begs a question, doesn't it Glen Taylor? How is it even possible to stink for as long as we have stunk?